Part 2

When, at ten o'clock, the car that was to take them to the lake stopped at their corner, the three were hailed with many welcome shouts. For Mother Grunty and Mother Rooty, who were very good friends, had planned a real picnic party and had promised to care for thirty excited piglets.

Do you wonder that they laughingly told each other that they would have no idle minutes that day?

The ride in the open car was wonderfully cool and very pretty. At the first sight of the lake such a shout arose that the motorman turned quickly to see what the trouble could be. But when he saw the thirty happy, excited faces his shoulders shook with laughter as he said to himself, "Carried folks over this hill for twenty years now and never heard such a fuss over the sight of a little water!"

When the car was empty of the last little pig, and every basket, box and bundle had been carefully placed on a picnic table that stood near by, Mother Rooty took charge of all the hats while Mother Grunty arranged for some amusement.

"Now Curly-tail and Spotty may be leaders and choose sides. When you are all equally divided, we can play any games you like."

"I'll choose Little-wee," piped up Spotty, and before many minutes fifteen excited little piggies faced fifteen other equally excited little pigs.

"Now, Spotty, what does your side choose to play? How many want to play hide and seek?"

Only two little heads nodded; so, of course, hide and seek was forgotten.

"How about Farmer in the Dell?"

This time every head bobbed up and down vigorously, and a merry circle, with Blacky-ears in the center,--for someone had to be the farmer, you know--sang lustily,

"Farmer in the dell, Farmer in the dell, Heigh oh, the derry oh, The farmer in the dell."

And Curly-tail's chosen ones were not far behind, for even before the farmer could "choose his wife," a cheery, "Here we go round the mulberry bush" vied with the farmer-song.

Now Mother Grunty and Mother Rooty were not idle. Baskets had to be emptied of their goodies, fresh water had to be carried from the spring, and lemons had to be squeezed. It seemed to the two mothers that never before had such a feast been spread.

"We'll have to carry home half of these good things," exclaimed Mother Rooty, as she stood by, looking down at the table full of dainties.

"Call them all and see what they can do," smiled Mother Grunty who, being the mother of two husky piglets, could guess what an amount _thirty_ hungry piggies could eat.

And what do you think! Just what do you think that table looked like a half-hour later? If you have been to picnics perhaps you know, but I had better tell you that except for a few crumbs and a very little lemonade in one glass, that table was bare.

As Mother Rooty gathered up dishes and silverware she laughed to herself. "I never would have brought half enough if I had had the planning of the lunch," she told Mother Grunty.

"We're going in bathing now," called several little pigs, as they came up to the tables once more. "You said we might, you know," urged Little-wee, as he saw his mother's look of disapproval.

"Yes, I promised, and you may do so later," explained Mother Grunty. "It is never safe to bathe for at least an hour after eating. You just play about until it is time for your swim."

"Oh, listen! listen! listen! There's the band playing! Oh! may we go over where the music is?" All this in such a jumble of voices!

"That is not a band. It sounds more like a merry-go-round, I should say," answered Mother Grunty, with a twinkle in her eye.

"Oh goody, goody! Oh goody, goody!" sang Little-wee. For Little-wee never could be very much delighted without breaking into his favorite jingle.

So, gathering up all the baggage, off they went. And Mother Grunty was right; the very merriest kind of merry-go-round was just ready to start on another "trip."

I just know you can guess what happened next. Yes, they all jumped on. And, luckily, that merry-go-round could carry just thirty piglets! After the first ride another was demanded, and then another and still another, though they were warned that there would be no time for the play in the lake. But, do you know, it seemed as though that music just bewitched them!

If long, heavy, distant rumbles of thunder had not warned these merrymakers, no telling how long they would have kept whirling. But with the storm sending down large, splashy raindrops the picnickers hurried for the trolley station.

The ride home was lots of fun, for the car was closed to keep out the rain. "Let's sing 'Merrily We Roll Along,'" someone suggested. And sing they did! Not even could the thunder be heard!

Fathers and big brothers, carrying raincoats and umbrellas enough for all, waited at the station as the trolley rolled into town.

"Haven't we had just the loveliest time!" exclaimed Little-wee, as the three Gruntys turned in at the doorway of the little brick house.

"Mother," asked Blacky-ears as they waited for the door to be unlocked--"Mother,--was Bad Boy Mischief there at the picnic?"

"I didn't see anything of him--not a glimpse all day. And that is a pretty good record when thirty little pigs go off for an all-day picnic!"

MISS PINKY PIG VISITS MOTHER GRUNTY

For ever and ever so long Mother Grunty had been wondering what should be done about Blacky-ears once he had finished his schooling at the little old stone schoolhouse. So one day in early spring she decided to talk things over with Miss Pinky Pig, who still taught the "rule of three" to all the lively piglets in the district.

Mother Grunty wrote a very cordial little note, asking her to come for supper on the following Thursday. Blacky-ears and Little-wee could scarcely wait for Thursday to come. They did love Miss Pinky Pig! Even to be allowed to carry her books or sharpen her pencil made them very happy. But to have her promise to walk home with them and stay to supper was the very nicest thing that could happen!

Mother Grunty had fruit cakes tucked away and sugared doughnuts sealed in stone jars and fresh molasses cookies in the cooky box. And when Thursday finally came, and good Mother Grunty had finished her work and gone upstairs to put on her most becoming dress and dainty white apron, whiffs of apple pie and chocolate frosting and other mysterious goodies floated everywhere.

"I don't wonder they all love her," Mother Grunty murmured as she peeped out of the front window to see dainty Miss Pinky Pig and Blacky-ears and Little-wee coming up the gravel path toward the little brick house. "She is so pretty and sweet and so very, very good," breathed Mother Grunty thankfully as she opened the door to greet the three.

"I have enjoyed this walk so much, Mother Grunty," smiled Miss Pinky Pig as she seated herself before the fireplace where a cheery fire of logs crackled merrily and quite drove away the sharpness of the early spring air. "What a wonderful fireplace! You must enjoy it so much. Have you lived in this house always, Mother Grunty?"

"Oh yes, ever since I can remember,--or almost as long. It was to this house I came at the dreadful time when my two brothers were eaten by the Wandering Wolf," Mother Grunty answered with a far-away light in her eyes.

"Why, Mother Grunty, I never knew _you_ were the heroine of that oft-repeated tale of years ago. I do wish you would tell me the real story just word for word as it happened."

"Well, of course you know my two brothers and I were alone. Finally we decided to go out into the world and each follow his own wishes.

"Everyone wonders how it happened that one of the three built a house of straw and one a house of wood, while I had this strong house of bricks. Now very few know the real reason which is this:--

"From the time we were tiny, wee pigs our mother had given each of us an equal amount of money each week. Well, my brothers used to make fun of me because I never spent my share. They called me stingy and were sometimes very unkind. But when the day came for us to seek our fortunes, I had more money than the other two together.

"My older brother had only enough left to buy straw for a house, but he meant to work hard and save and buy a better and stronger home as soon as ever he could. My other brother could almost pay for a wooden house, and finding an old friend who would trust him, he settled himself very comfortably, we all thought. But I, with all my saved-up pennies, settled on this land and built this same strong little brick house.

"We were scarcely settled when, without any warning, along came the Wandering Wolf and killed my older brother, and ate him up.

"Now, most unfortunately, my younger brother was at town, making arrangements for a good housekeeper when this happened, or he would have been warned at least. But, do you know, he had scarcely gone into his house and closed the door when the dreadful huffing and puffing started just outside his house! I heard some noise over that way, but before I could find out what had caused it, the wolf had finished his dreadful work and was coming this way.

"My doors and windows were barred because, living here alone in those days one had to be very, very careful, so I just kept as still as I could.

"I shook with fear and could scarcely keep from crying out when he started jumping at the door and huffing and puffing!

"Of course, he could not get in. So he changed his plans. Why, Miss Pinky Pig, I can see his wicked grin to this day! He tried time and time again to catch me. And once when I was up in an apple tree I nearly fell with fright when I saw him below, glaring up at me. But I escaped, as you see," Mother Grunty smiled.

"Didn't you once roll down the hill in a churn?" asked Miss Pinky Pig.

"You bet she did," answered Blacky-ears, who never could hear the tale often enough.

"Well, finally,--and if you'll excuse me, I'll take you out to the kitchen and prepare a bit of supper while I finish my tale--finally, one day the wicked Wandering Wolf grew beside himself with rage and scrambled up onto this roof. The old roof was of shingles, and it makes me shiver even yet to remember how his heavy feet scratched and clawed on the thin wood!

"Well, I was ready for him. I hung this same old iron kettle over my roaring fireplace and--well, do you know, I can never bear to tell anybody what happened next. But until this day I have never seen another wolf," she ended as they seated themselves at the dainty table.

"I heard a wolf once," ventured Blacky-ears.

"Tell her about the time Blacky-ears was lost, Mumsie," urged Little-wee Pig.

And so on and on they talked until Miss Pinky Pig simply had to leave for home.

"And here I intended to talk school all the time," said Mother Grunty as she helped Miss Pinky Pig into her coat. "Won't you come back again next Thursday?" And Miss Pinky Pig said she certainly would.

INSTRUCTOR LITERATURE SERIES

7 c--Supplementary Readers and Classics for all Grades--7 c

_This list is constantly being added to. If a substantial number of books are to be ordered, or if other titles than those shown here are desired, send for latest list._

FIRST GRADE

Fables and Myths

*6 Fairy Stories of the Moon--_Maguire_ *27 Eleven Fables from Æsop--_Reiter_ *28 More Fables from Æsop--_Reiter_ *29 Indian Myths--_Bush_ *140 Nursery Tales--_Taylor_ *288 Primer from Fableland--_Maguire_

Nature

*1 Little Plant People--Part I--_Chase_ *2 Little Plant People--Part II--_Chase_ *30 Story of a Sunbeam--_Miller_ *31 Kitty Mittens and Her Friends--_Chase_

History

*32 Patriotic Stories--_Reiter_

Literature

*104 Mother Goose Reader--_Faxon_ *228 First Term Primer--_Maguire_ *230 Rhyme and Jingle Reader for Beginners *245 Three Billy Goats Gruff and Other Stories

SECOND GRADE

Fables and Myths

*33 Stories from Andersen--_Taylor_ *34 Stories from Grimm--_Taylor_ *36 Little Red Riding Hood--_Reiter_ *37 Jack and the Beanstalk--_Reiter_ *38 Adventures of a Brownie

Nature and Industry

*3 Little Workers (Animal Stories)--_Chase_ *39 Little Wood Friends--_Mayne_ *40 Wings and Stings--_Halifax_ *41 Story of Wool--_Mayne_ *42 Bird Stories from the Poets--_Jollie_

History and Biography

*43 Story of the Mayflower--_McCabe_ *45 Boyhood of Washington--_Reiter_ *204 Boyhood of Lincoln--_Reiter_

Literature

*72 Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew--_Craik_ *152 Child's Garden of Verses--_Stevenson_ *296 Picture Study Stories for Little Children *220 Story of the Christ Child--_Hushower_ *262 Four Little Cotton-Tails--_Smith_ *268 Four Little Cotton Tails in Winter--_Smith_ *269 Four Little Cotton Tails at Play--_Smith_ *270 Four Little Cotton-Tails in Vacation--_Smith_ *290 Fuzz in Japan--A Child-Life Reader *300 Four Little Bushy-Tails--_Smith_ *301 Patriotic Bushy Tails--_Smith_ *302 Tinkle Bell and Other Stories *308 Story of Peter Rabbit--_Potter_

THIRD GRADE

Fables and Myths

*46 Puss in Boots and Cinderella *47 Greek Myths--_Klingensmith_ *48 Nature Myths--_Metcalf_ *50 Reynard the Fox--_Best_ *102 Thumbelina and Dream Stories--_Reiter_ *146 Sleeping Beauty and Other Stories 174 Sun Myths--_Reiter_ 175 Norse Legends, I--_Reiter_ 176 Norse Legends, II--_Reiter_ *177 Legends of the Rhineland--_McCabe_ *282 Siegfried, The Lorelei, and Other Rhine Legends--_McCabe_ *289 The Snow Man and Other Stories *292 East of the Sun and West of the Moon

Nature and Industry

*49 Buds, Stems and Fruits--_Mayne_ *51 Story of Flax--_Mayne_ *52 Story of Glass--_Hanson_ *53 Story of a Little Water Drop--_Mayne_ *133 Aunt Martha's Corner Cupboard--Part I. Story of Tea and the Teacup *135 Little People of the Hills--_Chase_ *137 Aunt Martha's Corner Cupboard--Part II. Story of Sugar, Coffee and Salt *138 Aunt Martha's Corner Cupboard--Part III. Story of Rice, Currants and Honey *203 Little Plant People of the Waterways--_Chase_

History and Biography

*4 Story of Washington--_Reiter_ *7 Story of Longfellow--_McCabe_ *21 Story of the Pilgrims--_Powers_ *44 Famous Early Americans (Smith, Standish, Penn)--_Bush_ *54 Story of Columbus--_McCabe_ 55 Story of Whittier--_McCabe_ 57 Story of Louisa M. Alcott--_Bush_ *59 Story of the Boston Tea Party--_McCabe_ *60 Children of the Northland--_Bush_ *62 Children of the South Lands--I (Florida, Cuba, Puerto Rico)--_McFee_ *63 Children of the South Lands--II (Africa, Hawaii, The Philippines)--_McFee_ *64 Child Life in the Colonies--I (New Amsterdam)--_Baker_ *65 Child Life in the Colonies--II (Pennsylvania)--_Baker_ *66 Child Life in the Colonies--III (Virginia) *68 Stories of the Revolution--I (Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys)--_McCabe_ *69 Stories of the Revolution--II (Around Philadelphia)--_McCabe_ *70 Stories of the Revolution--III (Marion, the Swamp Fox)--_McCabe_ *132 Story of Franklin--_Faris_ *164 The Little Brown Baby and Other Babies *165 Gemila, the Child of the Desert *166 Louise on the Rhine and in Her New Home (_Nos. 164, 165, 166 are the stories from "Seven Little Sisters" by Jane Andrews_) *167 Famous Artists--I--(Landseer and Bonheur)

Literature

*35 Little Goody Two Shoes 58 Selections from Alice and Phoebe Cary *67 The Story of Robinson Crusoe--_Bush_ *71 Selections from Hiawatha (Five Grades) *227 Our Animal Friends: How to Treat Them *233 Poems Worth Knowing--Book I--Primary

FOURTH GRADE

Nature and Industry

*75 Story of Coal--_McKane_ *76 Story of Wheat--_Halifax_ *77 Story of Cotton--_Brown_ *134 Conquests of Little Plant People--_Chase_ *136 Peeps into Bird Nooks--I--_McFee_ *181 Stories of the Stars--_McFee_ *205 Eyes and No Eyes and The Three Giants

History and Biography

*5 Story of Lincoln--_Reiter_ *56 Indian Children Tales--_Bush_ *78 Stories of the Backwoods *79 A Little New England Viking--_Baker_ *81 Story of De Soto--_Hatfield_ *82 Story of Daniel Boone--_Reiter_ *83 Story of Printing--_McCabe_ *84 Story of David Crockett--_Reiter_ *85 Story of Patrick Henry--_Littlefield_ *86 American Inventors--I (Whitney, Fulton) *87 American Inventors--II (Morse, Edison) *88 American Naval Heroes (Jones, Perry, Farragut)--_Bush_ *89 Fremont and Kit Carson--_Judd_ *91 Story of Eugene Field--_McCabe_ *178 Story of Lexington and Bunker Hill--_Baker_ *182 Story of Joan of Arc--_McFee_ *207 Famous Artists--II--Reynolds and Murillo *243 Famous Artists--III--Millet *248 Makers of European History--_White_

Literature

*95 Japanese Myths and Legends--_McFee_ *90 Fifteen Selections from Longfellow--(Village Blacksmith, Children's Hour, etc.) *103 Stories from the Old Testament--_McFee_ *111 Water Babies (Abridged)--_Kingsley_ *159 Little Lame Prince (Cond.)--_Mulock_ *171 Tolmi of the Treetops--_Grimes_ *172 Labu the Little Lake Dweller--_Grimes_ *173 Tara of the Tents--_Grimes_ *195 Night before Christmas and Other Christmas Poems and Stories (Any Grade) *201 Alice's First Adventures in Wonderland *202 Alice's Further Adventures in Wonderland *256 Bolo the Cave Boy--_Grimes_ *257 Kwasa the Cliff Dweller--_Grimes_ *291 Voyage to Lilliput (Condensed)--_Swift_ *293 Hansel and Grettel, and Pretty Goldilocks 304 Story Lessons in Everyday Manners--_Bailey_ *312 Legends from Many Lands--_Bailey_ 314 The Enchanted Bugle and Other Stories--_Bailey_

FIFTH GRADE

Nature and Industry

*92 Animal Life in the Sea--_Reiter_ *93 Story of Silk--_Brown_ *94 Story of Sugar--_Reiter_ *96 What We Drink (Tea, Coffee and Cocoa) *139 Peeps Into Bird Nooks--II 210 Snowdrops and Crocuses 233 The Sky Family--_Denton_ *280 Making of the World--_Herndon_ *281 Builders of the World--_Herndon_ *283 Stories of Time--_Bush_ *290 Story of King Corn--_Cooley_

History and Biography

*16 Explorations of the Northwest *80 Story of the Cabots--_McBride_ *97 Stories of the Norsemen--_Hanson_ *98 Story of Nathan Hale--_McCabe_ *99 Story of Jefferson--_McCabe_ 100 Story of Bryant--_McFee_ *101 Story of Robert E. Lee--_McKane_ 105 Story of Canada--_McCabe_ *106 Story of Mexico--_McCabe_ *107 Story of Robert Louis Stevenson--_Bush_ 110 Story of Hawthorne--_McFee_ 112 Biographical Stories--_Hawthorne_ *141 Story of Grant--_McKane_ *144 Story of Steam--_McCabe_ *145 Story of McKinley--_McBride_ 157 Story of Dickens--_Smith_ *179 Story of the Flag--_Baker_ *185 Story of the First Crusade--_Mead_ 190 Story of Father Hennepin--_McBride_ 191 Story of La Salle--_McBride_ *217 Story of Florence Nightingale--_McFee_ *218 Story of Peter Cooper--_McFee_ *219 Little Stories of Discovery--_Halsey_ 232 Story of Shakespeare--_Grames_ *265 Four Little Discoverers in Panama--_Push_ 274 Stories from Grandfather's Chair--_Hawthorne_ *275 When Plymouth Colony Was Young--_Bush_ *287 Life in Colonial Days--_Tillinghast_

Literature

*8 King of the Golden River--_Ruskin_ *9 The Golden Touch--_Hawthorne_ *61 Story of Sindbad the Sailor *108 History in Verse (Sheridan's Ride, Independence Bell, the Blue and the Gray, etc.) *113 Little Daffydowndilly and Other stories *180 Story of Aladdin and of Ali Baba--_Lewis_ *183 A Dog of Flanders--_De La Ramee_ *184 The Nurnberg Stove--_De La Ramee_ *186 Heroes from King Arthur--_Grames_ 194 Whittier's Poems--Selected *199 Jackanapes--_Ewing_ *200 The Child of Urbino--_De La Ramee_ *208 Heroes Of Asgard--Selections--_Keary_ *212 Stories of Robin Hood--_Bush_ *284 Poems Worth Knowing--Book II--Intermediate--_Faxon_ *244 What Happened at the Zoo, and Other Stories--_Bailey_ *250 At the Back of the North Wind, Selection from--_Macdonald_ 255 Chinese Fables and Stories--_Feltges_ *309 Moni the Goat Boy--_Spyri_ *313 In Nature's Fairyland--_Bailey_

SIXTH GRADE

Nature and Industry

*109 Gifts of the Forests (Rubber, Cinchona, Resins, etc.)--_McFee_ 249 Flowers and Birds of Illinois--_Patterson_ *298 Story of Leather--_Peirce_ *299 Story of Iron--_Ogden_

Agricultural

*271 Animal Husbandry, I--Horses and Cattle *272 Animal Husbandry, II--Sheep and Swine

Geography

*114 Great European Cities--I (London-Paris) *115 Great European Cities--II (Rome-Berlin) *168 Great European Cities--III (St. Petersburg-Constantinople)--_Bush_ *246 What I Saw in Japan--_Griffis_ *247 The Chinese and Their Country--_Paulson_ *285 Story of Panama and the Canal--_Nida_

History and Biography

*73 Four Great Musicians--_Bush_ *74 Four More Great Musicians--_Bush_ *116 Old English Heroes--_Bush_ *117 Later English Heroes (Cromwell, Wellington, Gladstone)--_Bush_ *160 Heroes of the Revolution--_Tristram_ *163 Stories of Courage--_Bush_ 187 Lives of Webster and Clay--_Tristram_ *188 Story of Napoleon--_Bush_ *189 Stories of Heroism--_Bush_ *197 Story of Lafayette--_Bush_ 198 Story of Roger Williams--_Leighton_ *209 Lewis and Clark Expedition--_Herndon_ *224 Story of William Tell--_Hallock_ 253 Story of the Aeroplane--_Galbreath_ *266 Story of Belgium--_Griffis_ 267 Story of Wheels--_Bush_ *286 Story of Slavery--_Booker T. Washington_ *310 Story of Frances E. Willard--_Babcock_

Stories of the States

508 Story of Florida--_Bauskett_ 509 Story of Georgia--_Derry_ 511 Story of Illinois--_Smith_ 512 Story of Indiana--_Clem_ 513 Story of Iowa--_McFee_ 515 Story of Kentucky--_Eubank_ 520 Story of Michigan--_Skinner_ 521 Story of Minnesota--_Skinner_ 523 Story of Missouri--_Pierce_ *525 Story of Nebraska--_Mears_ *528 Story of New Jersey--_Hutchinson_ 533 Story of Ohio--_Galbreath_ *536 Story of Pennsylvania--_March_ *540 Story of Tennessee--_Overall_ 542 Story of Utah--_Young_ 546 Story of West Virginia--_Shawkey_ 547 Story of Wisconsin--_Skinner_

Literature

*10 The Snow Image--_Hawthorne_ *11 Rip Van Winkle--_Irving_ *12 Legend of Sleepy Hollow--_Irving_ *22 Rab and His Friends--_Brown_ *24 Three Golden Apples--_Hawthorne_[+] *25 The Miraculous Pitcher--_Hawthorne_[+] *26 The Minotaur--_Hawthorne_ *118 A Tale of the White Hills and Other Stories--_Hawthorne_ *119 Bryant's Thanatopsis, and Other Poems *120 Ten Selections from Longfellow--(Paul Revere's Ride, The Skeleton in Armor, etc.) *121 Selections from Holmes (The Wonderful One Hoss Shay, Old Ironsides, and Others) *122 The Pied Piper of Hamelin--_Browning_ 161 The Great Carbuncle, Mr. Higginbotham's Catastrophe, Snowflakes--_Hawthorne_ 162 The Pygmies--_Hawthorne_ *211 The Golden Fleece--_Hawthorne_ *222 Kingsley's Greek Heroes--Part I. The Story of Perseus *223 Kingsley's Greek Heroes--Part II. The Story of Theseus *225 Tennyson's Poems--Selected (Any grade) 226 A Child's Dream of a Star, and other Stories 229 Responsive Bible Readings--_Zeller_ *258 The Pilgrim's Progress (Cond.)--_Simons_ *264 The Story of Don Quixote--_Bush_ 277 Thrift Stories--_Benj. Franklin and Others_ *284 Story of Little Nell (Dickens)--_Smith_ 294 The Dragon's Teeth--_Hawthorne_ *295 The Gentle Boy--_Hawthorne_

SEVENTH GRADE